Scottish Water has completed a £3.4m major project to increase the capacity of its Black Esk reservoir which supplies drinking water to communities throughout Annandale and Eskdale.
The upgrade has seen the height of the reservoir raised by 2.5m using clay that already existed on site, thereby increasing its capacity by around 40%.
The height of the overflow weir has also been increased using the addition of a unique ‘piano key weir’ extension, the first of its kind in the UK and believed to be one of the first times such an approach has ever been undertaken anywhere in the world. The extension consists of 24 pieces of cast concrete, each the size of a portacabin. The weir design has added to the operational efficiency of the reservoir.
The project’s design and construction was undertaken for Scottish Water by Black & Veatch. Before the project started a team visited France to research these types of weirs – which are usually in a straight line and not circular.
Project Manager Jim Tudhope said the scheme would significantly improve security of supply from the Black Esk Reservoir and further enhance Scottish Water’s ability to deliver water to customers.
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